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NEWBURYPORT | The "What if..." debate surfaced for the first time yesterday with 6:45 remaining in the first quarter.

Newburyport's quarterback-for-a-game Ashlyn Calcagni fumbled in the pocket at the Amesbury 42, and Indians junior Steve Serwon scooped up the loose ball and ran 58 yards for his second defensive Turkey-Day touchdown in as many years.

Frank Serwon ventured to Landry Stadium last Thanksgiving for the 85th meeting between Newburyport and Amesbury | 52 years after he suited up for the final time as a Clipper.

A legendary nose guard on Newburyport teams that beat Amesbury his junior and senior seasons, Serwon had been to countless Thanksgiving games to see his sons, Stephen (Class of 1974) and Robert (Class of 1977), represent Newburyport.

Newburyport high school held their annual Color Day rally today. Each year before their Thanksgiving Day football game against Amesbury, they hold a rally that includes cheers, skits and competitions aimed at getting the students fired up for the game. This year's game, the 85th meeting between the schools, also decides the Cape Ann League Small champions.

Newburyport football coach Ed Gaudiano confirmed last night his team will be without the services of quarterback Joe Clancy tomorrow when the Clippers host Amesbury (10 a.m., World War Stadium).

Clancy will serve a MIAA-imposed one-game suspension that stems from a physical altercation between him and Lynnfield linebacker Nick Tropeano during the teams' Nov. 10 game.

Where: War Memorial Stadium, Newburyport

Date: Thursday, Nov. 22

Time: 10 a.m.

Coaches: Amesbury: Thom Connors; Newburyport: Ed Gaudiano

Captains: Amesbury: Sean Blaisdell, Sr. G/LB; Nicholas Eaton, Sr. T/T; Daniel Jones, Sr. FB/DE; John Lannon, Sr. SE/C; Newburyport: Chris Barry, Sr. TE/DE; Kevin Ryan, Sr. OL/DE; Chris Gogolos, Sr. OL/DL; Justin Burl, Sr. RB/LB; Richie Pace, Sr. OL/DL

LYNNFIELD | It was a meaningless play in the closing minutes of a decided victory, but for the Newburyport football team, it may turn out to be the most costly 15 seconds of the season.

With 4:38 remaining in Newburyport's 14-0 victory at Lynnfield on Saturday, and the final score already on the board, Clippers quarterback Joe Clancy had a physical altercation with Lynnfield linebacker Nick Tropeano after he misfired on a potential touchdown pass to Ashlyn Calcagni.

NEWBURYPORT | Newburyport football coach Ed Gaudiano has never counted wins, but he may have been thinking about a few that got away last night at 8:50 p.m.

At that exact time, the Clippers coach stood in a short-sleeve shirt on a 40-degree night | dripping from a Gatorade shower he'd just received from his captains while standing on the sidelines. The celebration was a result of Gaudiano's passing Jim Stehlin to become the winningest coach in program history.

The Walt Whitman poem, "O Captain! My Captain!" draws comparisons to the way the football players of Newburyport High School have felt about their coaches for nearly a half century.

For the last 21 years, Ed Gaudiano has been at the helm of the Clippers ship, producing greatness along the way: four Super Bowl appearances, including victories in 1995 and 1997, and numerous Cape Ann titles.

NEWBURYPORT | The Newburyport football team's passing offense was bound to stall sometime.

Fortunately for the Clippers, it happened last night in a 14-7 loss to North Andover that won't count against them in the Cape Ann League Small standings.

NORTH READING | The hot start to the season for North Reading was a distant memory yesterday.

The Hornets' offense struggled against red-hot Newburyport, and a strong defensive effort could not prevent a 14-0 loss.